A good way to waste a couple hundred hours.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/23586
100 Classic Books isn’t the most exciting video game title in the world, and when placed next to the likes of Mario and Zelda it could be easy to skip over in favor of a more traditional title. While it is indeed true that 100 Classic Books may not appeal to everyone, Nintendo DS owners who are looking for an affordable collection of classic books will find an unprecedented quantity of classic literature for a value price.
As the title suggests, 100 Classic Books is a collection of novels that have been well-received over the centuries. It contains works from the likes of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, and has enough content to satisfy every type of reader’s tastes.
By turning the handheld on its side, players can turn the Nintendo DS into their very own book. The stylus is used to flip through the pages and navigate menus, and that is as complex as it gets in turns of controls. Things are kept quite simple and straightforward, resulting in an experience that mimics that of reading an actual book.
100 Classic Books will work on any iteration of the Nintendo DS, but people with poorer eyesight will most likely want to play it on the Nintendo DSi XL. Font sizes can be adjusted to a smaller or larger size to suit your reading preference, but the Nintendo DSi XL will ultimately give you the biggest fonts thanks to its increased screen size.
One of the neat features of the game is synopsis list that details the plot and theme of each novel, while at the same time providing a bare-bones look at each work without giving away any major events.
While the title implies that there are only 100 books included, more books can be downloaded via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Even if you don’t have access to these additional books, the 100 that are included have plenty of variety to satisfy every reader demographic. There are books such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.
Another neat little feature is the ability to add background sounds to your reading session to help you unwind and relax. One of the more commonly used sounds in my reading sessions is the sound of waves crashing against a beach.
While some gamers may be able to read an entire book in one sitting, it is doubtful that more active people will have the time to complete one in just a few hours. With this in mind, there is bookmark functionality that you can use to mark where you left off.
After finally completing a book, you may have difficulty deciding where to go next. Enter the Book Guide, a feature that lets readers answer a few short questions in order to get a recommendation of other books they may enjoy. Players can also evaluate books they have read to help them determine what genre they are most suited to.
100 Classic Books isn’t for everyone. Adults looking for a way to relax and enjoy various pieces of literature will ultimately be the ones who will get the most value out of the game. Most titles are more suited to adults, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream (which involves the mix-up of Athenian lovers), but more mature children looking for a great read may get some enjoyment of the title as well.